Referring to the
photograph in Herald of 03.10.21 of Churchill Alemao paying a visit to the then
mighty Goan foot-baller Menino Figueredo to felicitate and to wish Menino Figueredo
“A Happy Birthday”. Churchill Alemao visited
him I think not only to felicitate and wish him a happy 85th birthday
but to pay his well deserved respect. Such
visits, felicitations and respects for such retired players are rarity nowadays
but with Churchill Alemao anything is possible.
His heart melts easily when he sees such persons like Menino Figueredo
who contributed so much for the
promotion and development of Goan soccer and about which he had a mastery by
playing as one of the best India has ever produced and as the best Goa too has
ever produced. To snatch the ball from
his opponents’ feet however much magnetized it to his feet but like a Lion Menino Figueredo would pounce on
any of the best foot-ballers mainly the forwards either the Goan, Indian or Portuguese during the colonial
regime when Goa produced the glorious footballers in Goa because Goan players
then playing with the top oppositon from the Portuguese. Not only that, besides Goans of that era had
great opportunities to play, learn and improve their own game by learning from
the best of Portuguese players who were the part of Portuguese Military and
Police force stationed in Goa.
And let it be known to
everyone that during the last few years of Portuguese rule in Goa, it was so
beneficial and prosperous to Goa that Portuguese government of Dr. Antonio
Oliveira Salazar impressed upon his administration in Goa to create best of
opportunities to Goans not only in the economic field but also in Sports and
other fields stressing more on soccer. To
produce the required results he even appointed
a charismatic and very people meaning Goans, friendly Governador Vassalo
e Silva. The golden era had just dawned on Goa and if it was not on one fine
Night of 18th December if Goa was not robbed by its own neighbour
who was barking in the name of Non-Violence finally itself used violence to
grab Goa in the name of fake Liberation. Menino learning from the Portuguese the best
of soccer finally became the best Goan defender where he was playing as a right
back and playing just like the Argentinian captain of 1978 World Cup winning
squad, Daniel Pasarrela. By respecting
Menino Figueredo in this manner, Churchill Alemao proved that there is also
respect for “Moddlolo Khuris” by not neglecting the aged Menino Figueredo. My admiration goes to Churchill Alemao for
indicating his humane characteristic and I request him to create some avenues to aid some of those senior sportsmen facing financial
deficiencies.
I have special affection
for Menino Figueredo for having played with him as his opponent at the very
young age when I was as a St. Joseph’s High School Arpora, Student recruited by
Sesa Goa for their team somewhere in 1966 when Menino shifted his original position
from right back to Centre Half where he lost his earlier charm as right back and
where he was extremely good by being equally good in both his legs and in the
aerial duels he was too good. His long inning for Salgaocars moulded him into a
finest player of whose type Goa is yet to produce. His 1 minute absence on the field would create
an adverse effect on their team as it happened In 1959 at Police Ground in Panjim, Salgaocars were leading
by 2-0 goals, However, in the second half due to injury Menino was substituted
creating a void in their defense making their opponents not only to equalise both the goals but also in the dying seconds to score the
match winner.
Taking this
opportunity, I wish Menino Figueredo thouh belatedly a very happy 85th
birthday and good health.
A.Veronica Fernandes.
